[Retro-Clone] The Basic Role Playing Game System (TBRPGS)

enelson · August 03, 2009, 06:02:10 PM

Casting around the internet, I could not find a retro-clone of TWERPS. Egads man! This error in judgement must be corrected. So in this thread I offer you TBRPGS (The Basic Role Playing Game System)!

The Basic Role Playing Game System (TBRPGS) is an easy roleplaying game that is defined by simplicity, fast resolution and fun.

There is only one characteristic used in this game. Chutzpah is...

enelson · August 04, 2009, 11:50:23 AM

representative of the character's resolve, karma, force, grit, determination, physical and mental makeup, luck and kwan. It is that elusive quality that lets a character survive.

To create your first TBRPGS character, roll d6+2 for his Chutzpah, choose talents per world book and then equip him. Each world book (a whole post in length!) will provide you a list of talents for your character.

Action resolution is easy. Roll 2d6, add your Chutzpah and skill (if you have any) and compare the total to 12. If it is greater than or equal to 12, you succeed! Even better, if you roll doubles, you get to add your doubles, reroll the dice and then add this new roll to your total. Now for the bad news, if you roll a 3 (a 1 and a 2 or a 2 and a 1), then something EVIL happens to you. The GM gets to laugh maliciously and make you squirm by having something BAD happen to your character.

What about opposed rolls? Let's say you're trying to sneak past the nodding guard, you roll 2d6+Chutzpah+some skill and score a 15. You succeeded! Well, maybe. The guard may still hear you. Opponents get to roll 2d6+Menace Level. If this roll equals or exceeds your total, then your success gets turned to a failure. To continue with this example, the guard has a Menace Level of 2 (not very menacing), and he rolls an 8 on two dice for a total of 10 (8+2=10). The guard's head lolls back and his snore is so loud he doesn't hear you sneak past.

Age of Fable · August 09, 2009, 07:27:53 AM

As with Fighting Fantasy, if there's one 'super-stat', I think it's better to have everyone start with the same number.

Also there's already at least two systems with 'Basic' in the title that I know of. Maybe NERDS - Notably Easy Resolution / Damage System? TROUSERS - The Remarkably Open, Unbelievably Simple, Elegant Resolution System?

Premier · August 09, 2009, 11:19:03 AM

Also, may I recommend you change the name "Chutzpah" to something else? "Strength", "Luck", "Wisdom", "Fate", "Spiritual": these are all perfectly neutral English words which I'd expect to find in an English-language RPG. "Chutzpah", however, is Hebrew/Yiddish, and thus it will feel strange and out of place unless the game actually has something to do with Hebrew or Yiddish history/culture. I mean, if you were browsing an RPG and suddenly encountered Japanese / Aztec / whatever words for various character attributes and the like, you'd surely expect that game to be strongly influenced by Japanese / Aztec / whatever sources, no?

J Arcane · August 09, 2009, 04:20:48 PM

Quote from: Premier;319452Also, may I recommend you change the name "Chutzpah" to something else? "Strength", "Luck", "Wisdom", "Fate", "Spiritual": these are all perfectly neutral English words which I'd expect to find in an English-language RPG. "Chutzpah", however, is Hebrew/Yiddish, and thus it will feel strange and out of place unless the game actually has something to do with Hebrew or Yiddish history/culture. I mean, if you were browsing an RPG and suddenly encountered Japanese / Aztec / whatever words for various character attributes and the like, you'd surely expect that game to be strongly influenced by Japanese / Aztec / whatever sources, no?

This may be the most bizarre complaint about a game I've ever seen. It's not a good word just because it's Yiddish? I could make some very uncharitable assumptions about that.

It's a word, with an appropriate meaning, and humorous undertones, which is perfect for the game it's intended to emulate. WTF does it having originated in another language have to do with anything? You do realize non Jews use it too, right? And that English is chock full of words from other languages?

Dirk Remmecke · August 09, 2009, 04:48:35 PM

Quote from: J Arcane;319549It's a word, with an appropriate meaning, and humorous undertones, which is perfect for the game it's intended to emulate.

It worked for Paranoia...

Nicephorus · August 09, 2009, 05:27:29 PM

Quote from: Premier;319452"Chutzpah", however, is Hebrew/Yiddish, and thus it will feel strange and out of place unless the game actually has something to do with Hebrew or Yiddish history/culture. I mean, if you were browsing an RPG and suddenly encountered Japanese / Aztec / whatever words for various character attributes and the like, you'd surely expect that game to be strongly influenced by Japanese / Aztec / whatever sources, no?

How is that weird? If you had an rpg where the magic system was based on ki or mana, would you automatically think that it had to do with cultures or those words' origins? Like many Yiddish words, Chutzpah is fairly mainstream in American English.

Age of Fable · August 09, 2009, 11:18:02 PM

I think it's a lot less common outside of the US.

enelson · August 10, 2009, 04:51:44 PM

Great idea on the game's name. NERDS or TROUSERS are both unique and eye-catching!

Chutzpah can be changed to anything. It's a one word stat that encompasses everything. TWERPS used STRENGTH. Good ideas out there.

enelson · August 10, 2009, 05:05:08 PM

World Book I - Fantasy
The world of Aerth is a mystical land filled with treasure laden dungeons, mysterious and menacing monsters and kingdoms at war!

Roll your stat score per the basic rules.

Determine your race:
1. Adventurer - Human. Choose any talent.
2. Elf - Wild creatures of the forest that have starlight vision.
3. Dwarf - Brooding creatures of the earth. They can see at night.
4. Halfling - Optimistic creatures of the hills.
5. Barbarian - Human. Get the Survival talent.
6. Nomad - Human. Get the Animal talent.

Determine your talent by rolling once.
1. Fight - +2 when fighting.
2. Skullduggery - +2 when thieving.
3. Survival - +2 when surviving in the wilderness
4. Animal - +2 when riding or caring for animals.
5. Faith - +2 on religion and cast blessings.
6. Magic - Cast spells and +2 on magic.

Equip yourself by rolling a d6.
1-2 Poor - You get a poorly made weapon and pouch.
3-4 Average - You get two weapons, leather armor and adventurer's gear.
5-6 Wealthy - You get two weapons, chain armor, horse and adventurer's gear.

Roll a weakness for yourself.
1 Outcast
2 Hunted
3 Phobia of _________
4 Cursed
5 Mental Malfunction __________
6 Vulnerable to _______

Name your character so you can go adventuring!